SpaceX Falcon Heavy - Psyche - KSC LC-39A - 13 October 2023 (14:19 UTC)

[pb2000]

They can cycle the propellants for a second attempt in their four hour launch windows for GTO launches, but obviously that is limited to payloads that don't care too much about time of day.

I don't think they can recycle Falcon Heavy, only delay prop loading if they have a window. I was there for Arabsat-6A and on the second attempt, I'm pretty sure they said it would be a scrub if there was any problems after commit to prop load, although that was only a ~2hr window. I'm not sure why Jim is dancing around this, unless Psyche itself has an instantaneous launch window...?

[rpapo]

It’s worth noting you could do continuous replenishment of subcooled propellants, too. It’s just not a thing SpaceX (who pioneered the operational use of deeply subcooled propellants) has bothered to do, yet.

I thought that the Russians were the first to use subcooled propellants, several decades ago.

[vapour_nudge]

I’m disappointed in the delay. I was all Psyched up for this launch

[AstroWare]

Back to Psyche mission launch *period* impacts.

The Janus mission must also be able to accommodate launching later in the period. It is still TBD if Psyche can load additional fuel above 950kg nominal, but Janus uses electric thrusters which are preloaded with propellant from the factory and not able to be filled further at the launch site. Unknown what their propellant margins are for the mission.

Total prop load 0.23kg
Spacecraft mass 38.2kg
Thruster: Enpulsion R3 (wide isp range 2k to 6k s)

Per JANU-RP-20-0052
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=50260.0;attach=2070175;sess=0

[ccdengr]

The Janus mission must also be able to accommodate launching later in the period.

Maybe yes, maybe no.  As defined by SIMPLEx the launch period was Aug 6-26 2022 (see PEA J Appendix A https://soma.larc.nasa.gov/SIMPLEx/ ).  One presumes they were OK with the somewhat-extended period, but if it goes longer, they could easily have a problem.  Since this would be outside the bounds of the original AO, one imagines that Janus would be pulled off Psyche and go to the front of the line for the next flight opportunity.

Unfortunately I don't know of any public info on this.

[whitelancer64]

It’s worth noting you could do continuous replenishment of subcooled propellants, too. It’s just not a thing SpaceX (who pioneered the operational use of deeply subcooled propellants) has bothered to do, yet.

I thought that the Russians were the first to use subcooled propellants, several decades ago.

Yes, although not as cold as the LOX used by SpaceX.

Shuttle (SSME) and most other US rockets
-183°C (just under the boiling point of LOX)

N-1 rocket (NK-15 engine)
-192°C

Antares (NK-33 engine)
-195°C

Soyuz 2-1v also uses the NK-33, however, a compromise had to be found since the RD-0110R steering engines of the first stage do not use sub-cooled LOX. Because of that, the LOX temperature for Soyuz 2-1v is -187°C

SpaceX uses LOX at a temperature of approximately –207°C

The freezing point of oxygen is about -218°C

[Robotbeat]

It’s worth noting you could do continuous replenishment of subcooled propellants, too. It’s just not a thing SpaceX (who pioneered the operational use of deeply subcooled propellants) has bothered to do, yet.

I thought that the Russians were the first to use subcooled propellants, several decades ago.

…which is why I included the word deeply. Make sure to read all the words…

[ccdengr]

This thread is about launching Psyche and https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47983.0 is about the mission itself.

[zubenelgenubi]

Moderator:
I split/merged 23 posts discussing yaw steering and RAAN (Right Ascension of Ascending Node) steering re: Psyche and other missions to an already-established dedicated discussion thread in the General Discussion/Q & A section here: Yaw steering and RAAN steering.

[Rondaz]

B1075 has been spotted on its way to Florida.

It's a Falcon Heavy Side planned to fly on Psyche later this year.

https://twitter.com/DELTA_V/status/1533453523232358401

[ChrisC]

As recently announced, right now @MissionToPsyche can't completely test our guidance, navigation, & control flight software (a different Psyche testbed pictured here). Gotta test before launch. Huge human effort right now - everyone working their hardest.   To do complete testing we need a simulator, and ours isn't yet working correctly. Here's a huge cheer to the team's determined work on finding the fixes! Space is hard!

https://twitter.com/ltelkins/status/1532794103418695680

[dsmillman]

At the SBAG meeting it was stated that the Psyche launch period extends to Oct. 11, 2022.

[ccdengr]

At the SBAG meeting it was stated that the Psyche launch period extends to Oct. 11, 2022.

Cool, thanks.  Did they say anything about Janus?  (Meeting presentations not online yet AFAIK.)

[dsmillman]

At the SBAG meeting it was stated that the Psyche launch period extends to Oct. 11, 2022.

Cool, thanks.  Did they say anything about Janus?  (Meeting presentations not online yet AFAIK.)

The Janus project is studying the effect of the launch delay.

[gongora]

At the SBAG meeting it was stated that the Psyche launch period extends to Oct. 11, 2022.

Cool, thanks.  Did they say anything about Janus?  (Meeting presentations not online yet AFAIK.)

Janus can't reach one of the original targets and could only reach the other one if they launch near the end of the current Psyche window, looking for alternative targets.

[Chinakpradhan]

https://mobile.twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1534608667693223937
https://mobile.twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1534628232816996353

[scr00chy]

Psyche launch delay forcing revamp of rideshare mission (Space News)

[gongora]

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1539282052570308609

Salute: waiting with bated breath to see if Psyche software will be ready in time for “contingency” launch window of Sept. 20-Oct. 11. Warns there are “extreme conflicts” on the range for launch then.

If Psyche can’t launch this year, there is its original launch window in 2023, as well as another in 2024. But it would arrive years later than if it launched this fall.

[Clavin]

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1540394908720177152

[Phillipsturtles]

From the teleconference: There will be a nice opportunity to launch in July 2023 and September 2023.